Some time ago I saw a presentation of the 3 shell game.
It got me very interested. I had decided that I would give it a try.
So I searched the net and different magicstores, I even read the posts here at the magiccafe and Bill Palmers excellent post about buying new props. I didnÂ´t know what to buy.

Now for my question. What are good shells to begin with. I donÂ´t want to spent a lot of money to find out that this item doesnÂ´t suit me. I just need some good learning shells.

Thanks

Floyd

"Imagination is more important than knowledge"

-- Albert Einstein

Whit HaydnV.I.P.
5449 Posts

Posted: Jan 22, 2006 04:18 am

0

I recommend the Vernet Shells. They are very inexpensive, work reasonably well, and the peas are very good. You will want to have a nicer looking set for professional performances, I would think. But to learn the game, these are an excellent starting set.

I just visited your website, those street shells look nice and not a bad price.
How do they compare to the ones by vernet?

Floyd

"Imagination is more important than knowledge"

-- Albert Einstein

paisa23Inner circle
7288 Posts

Posted: Jan 22, 2006 05:39 am

0

Whit just yesterday I was looking at all your 3 Shell Game material. First off WOW on the demo. Did your heart jump on that one instant? Now I am not new to the shell game as far as knowing about it. I know the basic move but have not tried to really learn it until now. I want to be a Scoundrel. I want to get your DVD but again being fairly new to it. I don't want to dish out the big bucks quite yet until I have a decent presentation. What do you suggest?

If you're sure that you will do it, and you thought street shells were reasonably priced, maybe you should go for it. I (along with most of the shell workers at this forum) think they're great. Plus, if you need any help, Whit is incredibly available and responsive. If you know about cups and balls it's the same kind of decision. The cheap ones will do the effect. The good ones look nicer and handle the details better.

Vernet shell do work well, they just look a little cheap.

What do you want in a site? "Honesty, integrity and decency." -Mike Doogan
"I hate it, I hate my ironic lovechild. I didn't even have anything to do with it" Josh #2

Bill PalmerEternal Order
Only Jonathan Townsend has more than
24136 Posts

Posted: Jan 22, 2006 11:13 am

0

If you have been to the cups and balls museum, you know that I have many different sets of shells. I have actually played around with each set enough to get the feel of them.

When you are just starting out, you need a set that is light and easy to pick up. While the S4S Street Shells are really wonderful shells -- looking natural and handling great -- the Vernet shells are just fine to learn on. Get a set of those, if you don't already have them. Then order the DVD and some perfect peas from School For Scoundrels and learn the basic material there.

I think that the SFS shells are the best out there and if you really want to learn the Routine the street shells are the way to go. But beware this is an addictive proposition and you will probably own more than one set of shells in the end.

D ByrdVeteran user
Virginia
374 Posts

Posted: Jan 22, 2006 08:22 pm

0

I haven't tried the Street Shells, but I do like my Black Fox Scarab Beetles and Turtle Shell Shells.

I hope that Whit didn't let his URL rights expire and that someone else bought up those URL rights and is now holding Whit hostage and requiring him to pay them to get his site URL rights back.

Mike

Magic is a vanishing Art.

This must not be Kansas anymore, Toto.

Eschew obfuscation.

Vandy GriftInner circle
Milwaukee
3505 Posts

Posted: Jan 23, 2006 03:45 pm

0

Turk, I was having trouble earlier as well. But it seems to be working now.

"Get a life dude." -some guy in a magic forum

Dave VInner circle
Las Vegas, NV
4826 Posts

Posted: Jan 23, 2006 05:33 pm

0

Mike,
There was a temporary problem at the hosting end of things. It had nothing to do with Whit, his registration, bandwidth or disk space. It was just "one of those things."

No trees were killed in the making of this message, but a large number of electrons were terribly inconvenienced.

Josh the SuperfluousInner circle
The man of
1881 Posts

Posted: Jan 24, 2006 12:28 am

0

I agree with Bill's First comment. I learned with the Vernet, decided I enjoyed the effect, and upgraded to S4S.

But I just took out my street shells and tried to think what it'd be like to learn with them. They never fail. I could have focused more on my technique and routine, without clicks, skips and stalls. Is there an advantage to starting off with a lesser prop?

I started out unsure and with limited funds. that's why I tried the Vernet. Floyd seams interested and said the Street Shells were "not a bad price". So the uncertanty/money parts don't seem like an issue for him.

What do you want in a site? "Honesty, integrity and decency." -Mike Doogan
"I hate it, I hate my ironic lovechild. I didn't even have anything to do with it" Josh #2

Etienne M.New user
Netherlands
75 Posts

Posted: Jan 24, 2006 09:14 am

0

Thanks guys for the response,

IÂ´m going to save some money and go for the vernet shells and dvd and peas from Whit.

Floyd

"Imagination is more important than knowledge"

-- Albert Einstein

bishthemagishInner circle
6036 Posts

Posted: Jan 24, 2006 09:25 am

0

One point I would like to make on the shells. Many sets will hook into some close up mats and the shells may need to be sanded with light sand paper to make them slide smooth on some close up mats.

You have to do this with bottle caps to and I have had to do this with most of the sets of shells I own. And I have owned quite a lot of shell sets over the years. This is just the way that they are made and when you get a set you might have to fine sand them to work with the mat you have.

That is if you use a mat and do not do it on an open bar with the perfect pea from the s4s. Then sanding the shells would not be needed.